Stepper
Stepper
Stepper
Team
Team
Team
Research
Research
Research
Design
Design
Design
Rohit Ramesh
Rohit Ramesh
Rohit Ramesh
Shreyas Patil
Shreyas Patil
Shreyas Patil
Pranavi Chitti
Pranavi Chitti
Pranavi Chitti
Vinaya Naikar
Vinaya Naikar
Vinaya Naikar
Yinan Xu
Yinan Xu
Yinan Xu
Duration
Duration
28 weeks
28 weeks
Timeline
Timeline
Aug 22' - Mar 23'
Aug 22' - Mar 23'
Stepper was a mobile indoor navigation alternative designed to tackle the issues usually experienced by indoor navigation application users in educational institutions. This case study effectively displays the breakdown of the issues with augmented reality indoor navigation, how we were able to discover them using , and how I created a design that helped ameliorate the indoor AR navigation experience.
Stepper was a mobile indoor navigation alternative designed to tackle the issues usually experienced by indoor navigation application users in educational institutions. This case study effectively displays the breakdown of the issues with augmented reality indoor navigation, how we were able to discover them using , and how I created a design that helped ameliorate the indoor AR navigation experience.
Role on Team
Role on Team
Role on Team
Qualitative Study
(interview, prototype testing)
(interview, prototype testing)
(interview, prototype testing)
Quantitative Study
Quantitative Study
Quantitative Study
(survey distribution and analysis)
(survey distribution and analysis)
(survey distribution and analysis)
Experimental Research
Experimental Research
Experimental Research
(survey distribution and analysis)
(survey distribution and analysis)
(survey distribution and analysis)
The Problem
The Problem
The Problem
While augmented reality was presented back in 2019 as a viable navigation solution, its user base has seen a significant decrease since, especially due to its lack of indoor navigation implementations. As a team, out main goal was to then understand where are these implementations lacking. Individually, my goal was to present solutions existing within academic research as well as integrate those solutions into a user friendly, yet distinct design.
While augmented reality was presented back in 2019 as a viable navigation solution, its user base has seen a significant decrease since, especially due to its lack of indoor navigation implementations. As a team, out main goal was to then understand where are these implementations lacking. Individually, my goal was to present solutions existing within academic research as well as integrate those solutions into a user friendly, yet distinct design.
While augmented reality was presented back in 2019 as a viable navigation solution, its user base has seen a significant decrease since, especially due to its lack of indoor navigation implementations. As a team, out main goal was to then understand where are these implementations lacking. Individually, my goal was to present solutions existing within academic research as well as integrate those solutions into a user friendly, yet distinct design.
User Research
User Research
User Research
We performed interviews, surveys, and prototype studies across 65+ participants to help understand what was wrong with indoor navigation.
We performed interviews, surveys, and prototype studies across 65+ participants to help understand what was wrong with indoor navigation.
We performed interviews, surveys, and prototype studies across 65+ participants to help understand what was wrong with indoor navigation.
Target Demographic: 18-30 years
Target Demographic: 18-30 years
Target Demographic: 18-30 years
Stakeholders: Students, Working Professionals
Stakeholders: Students, Working Professionals
Stakeholders: Students, Working Professionals
Key Findings
Key Findings
Key Findings
Over-immersion causes a general concern for user safety
Over-immersion causes a general concern for user safety
Over-immersion causes a general concern for user safety
The location markers were placed randomly on the screen and repeatedly confused the participants
The location markers were placed randomly on the screen and repeatedly confused the participants
The location markers were placed randomly on the screen and repeatedly confused the participants
Users were frustrated with the user interface and experience of AR navigation apps, desiring a better overall experience
Users were frustrated with the user interface and experience of AR navigation apps, desiring a better overall experience
Users were frustrated with the user interface and experience of AR navigation apps, desiring a better overall experience
Users often lost awareness of their surroundings, resulting in near-collisions with objects and even other people
Users often lost awareness of their surroundings, resulting in near-collisions with objects and even other people
Users often lost awareness of their surroundings, resulting in near-collisions with objects and even other people
The Solution
The Solution
The Solution
In order to tackle these pressing issues, I decided to create a more cohesive application design that helped in providing a better indoor navigation experience using Augmented Reality.
The application design featured implementation from previous academic research and versions of AR navigation applications that were in widespread use during the rise of AR applications.
In order to tackle these pressing issues, I decided to create a more cohesive application design that helped in providing a better indoor navigation experience using Augmented Reality.
The application design featured implementation from previous academic research and versions of AR navigation applications that were in widespread use during the rise of AR applications.
In order to tackle these pressing issues, I decided to create a more cohesive application design that helped in providing a better indoor navigation experience using Augmented Reality.
The application design featured implementation from previous academic research and versions of AR navigation applications that were in widespread use during the rise of AR applications.
User Journeys
User Journeys
I crafted user journeys to immerse ourselves in the personas' experiences, enabling us to step into their shoes, unveiling crucial pain points, motivations, and expectations, providing invaluable insights for a user-centric design approach
I crafted user journeys to immerse ourselves in the personas' experiences, enabling us to step into their shoes, unveiling crucial pain points, motivations, and expectations, providing invaluable insights for a user-centric design approach
Visual Design
Visual Design
Visual Design
With the hypothetical userbase in mind, I then set out to create the initial designs for the navigation application
With the hypothetical userbase in mind, I then set out to create the initial designs for the navigation application
With the hypothetical userbase in mind, I then set out to create the initial designs for the navigation application
Design System
Design System
Design System
The design approach was a more older depiction of futuristic design, choosing a vibrant color palette to support.
The design approach was a more older depiction of futuristic design, choosing a vibrant color palette to support.
The design approach was a more older depiction of futuristic design, choosing a vibrant color palette to support.
Necto Mono
Necto Mono
Necto Mono
#6FF7F6
#6FF7F6
#6FF7F6
Tealpunk
Tealpunk
Tealpunk
Necto Mono
Necto Mono
Necto Mono
#006A6A
#006A6A
#006A6A
Example Aqua
Example Aqua
Example Aqua
Necto Mono
#000000
#000000
#000000
Black
Black
Black
Necto Mono
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
White
White
White
Wireframes
Wireframes
Wireframes were initially made to understand initial information architecture, user flow and express the hypothetical user's ideal journey
Wireframes were initially made to understand initial information architecture, user flow and express the hypothetical user's ideal journey
Login and Landing Screen
Login and Landing Screen
Login and Landing Screen
The login screens and landing page were added to create a more personable experience for the userbase, especially for the institution that they would be a part of.
The login screens and landing page were added to create a more personable experience for the userbase, especially for the institution that they would be a part of.
The login screens and landing page were added to create a more personable experience for the userbase, especially for the institution that they would be a part of.
Location selection, navigation screen and using the minimap
Location selection, navigation screen and using the minimap
Location selection, navigation screen and using the minimap
In situations where markers weren't placing correctly on points across the path, users could view the minimap, containing the location, destination and path selection menus, as well as providing distance and potential number of steps for the journey
In situations where markers weren't placing correctly on points across the path, users could view the minimap, containing the location, destination and path selection menus, as well as providing distance and potential number of steps for the journey
In situations where markers weren't placing correctly on points across the path, users could view the minimap, containing the location, destination and path selection menus, as well as providing distance and potential number of steps for the journey
Updated settings and custom features
Updated settings and custom features
Updated settings and custom features
Users were frustrated with the user interface and experience of AR navigation apps, so we created a fully customizable navigation experience that includes users of a variety of backgrounds to enjoy the experience of indoor navigation. Furthermore, the settings includes periodic vibrio-tactile and audio feedback that allows users to constantly notify them.
Users were frustrated with the user interface and experience of AR navigation apps, so we created a fully customizable navigation experience that includes users of a variety of backgrounds to enjoy the experience of indoor navigation. Furthermore, the settings includes periodic vibrio-tactile and audio feedback that allows users to constantly notify them.
Users were frustrated with the user interface and experience of AR navigation apps, so we created a fully customizable navigation experience that includes users of a variety of backgrounds to enjoy the experience of indoor navigation. Furthermore, the settings includes periodic vibrio-tactile and audio feedback that allows users to constantly notify them.
User set notifications
User set notifications
User set notifications
Users often lost track of their presence in the physical environment, so a quick fix was to periodically set user-dependent notifications to remind users to be aware of their surroundings
Users often lost track of their presence in the physical environment, so a quick fix was to periodically set user-dependent notifications to remind users to be aware of their surroundings
Users often lost track of their presence in the physical environment, so a quick fix was to periodically set user-dependent notifications to remind users to be aware of their surroundings
What I learned
What I learned
What I learned
I was made familiar with a large number of concepts in user experience research and design, however these were what I believe, some of the most important ones:
I was made familiar with a large number of concepts in user experience research and design, however these were what I believe, some of the most important ones:
I was made familiar with a large number of concepts in user experience research and design, however these were what I believe, some of the most important ones:
Qualitative Analysis
Qualitative Analysis
Qualitative Analysis
Understanding the subjective needs of a user, comparing and finding common opportunities of improving a product was a very fulfilling experience for me, particularly because it helped me understand the amount of user interaction that is necessary with the research and design teams to improve on the existing product
Understanding the subjective needs of a user, comparing and finding common opportunities of improving a product was a very fulfilling experience for me, particularly because it helped me understand the amount of user interaction that is necessary with the research and design teams to improve on the existing product
Understanding the subjective needs of a user, comparing and finding common opportunities of improving a product was a very fulfilling experience for me, particularly because it helped me understand the amount of user interaction that is necessary with the research and design teams to improve on the existing product
User Journey
User Journey
User Journey
While creating a hypothetical set of users and understanding their emotion whilst navigating through the application, creating a user journey with user-specific actions was extremely beneficial as it gave me a deeper understanding of how would a hypothetical customer react after using my application without having to request for actual human participants for study before creating the application itself
While creating a hypothetical set of users and understanding their emotion whilst navigating through the application, creating a user journey with user-specific actions was extremely beneficial as it gave me a deeper understanding of how would a hypothetical customer react after using my application without having to request for actual human participants for study before creating the application itself
While creating a hypothetical set of users and understanding their emotion whilst navigating through the application, creating a user journey with user-specific actions was extremely beneficial as it gave me a deeper understanding of how would a hypothetical customer react after using my application without having to request for actual human participants for study before creating the application itself
Learning from unusable data
Learning from unusable data
Learning from unusable data